mv. Of 111. 


of Illinois 


Library 


International 
Ocean Telegraph Cot, 


& f 
pi OFFICE 


No. 45 WILLIAM STREET. 
| NEW YORK. 
LIBRARY 


OF THE ~ 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
( 


INTERNATIONAL 


Orcan Telegraph Company 


- FROM THE 


UNITED STATES 


TO THE 


ISGAND OF CUBA’ ~ @ 


AND OTHER 


Wes TL LIND TAY ES TAN DS, 


PANAMA AND SOUTH AMERICA. 


OFFICE, No. 45 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 


NEW YORK: 
D. VAN NOSTRAND, PUBLISHER, 192 BROADWAY. 
1866, 
LIBRARY 


OF THE 
UNIVERSITY OF" eNO s me 
Ca tr Beiicuns 


INTERNATIONAL 


OCEAN THLEGRAPH COMPANY. § 


PRESIDENT. 


WILLIAM F. SMITH, 
Late Major-General and Corps Engineers U.S. A. 


VICE-PRESIDENT. 
ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Jr. 


SECRETARY. 
ALFRED PELL, Jr. 


TREASURER. 
MATURIN L. DELAFIELD. 


DIRECTORS. 
ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Jr, CAMBRIDGE LIVINGSTON, 


CHARLES KNAP, WILLIAM T. BLODGETT, 
WILLIAM F. SMITH, EDWARD M. ARCHIBALD, 
> MATURIN L. DELAFIELD, OLIVER K. KING, 
y JAMES A. SCRYMSER, ALFRED PELL, Jr. 
> COUNSEL. 
Ne ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Jr., Esa, SAMUEL E. LYON, Eso. 
se CAPITAL - - - - - - $1,500,000 
\ 
NY 15,000 SHARES, $100 EACH. 


IARC OL Syl egy ch (God) Uo 


Tue “InTERNaTIONAL Ocean TELEGRAPH ComPaNy’’ is 
chartered under the laws of the State of New York, 
for the purpose of connecting, by means of tele- 
graphic wires and cables, the United States with 
the iskand of Cuba, and other West India islands, 
and with the State of Panama and the Spagish 
main. 

The Company have obtained from the Legislature 
of Florida, an act, dated January 2, 1866, giving 
to them, their associates, successors, and assigns, the 
sole and exclusive right and privilege for twenty 
years to connect by means of submarine telegraphic 
cables the shores and dependencies of the State of 
Florida with the island of Cuba and other West 
India islands, as well as the privilege of constructing 
land lines throughout any part of the state. 
proved May 5, 1866, giving to them the sole privi- 
lege for fourteen years to lay and maintain tele- 
graphic cables between the United States, from the 
shores of Forida, and the island of Cuba, the Baha- 
mas and other West India islands. 

They have also obtained: from the government of 


6 


Spain, a concession by Royal Order, dated June 19, 
1866, to land the cables: of the Company on the 
island of Cuba, and to connect with the central tele- 
graphic station in. Havana, on the most favorable 
terms. | 

The Company have also made an agreement on 
highly favorable terms with the consolidated Tele- 


ba he 


It can hardly be necessary to enlarge upon the 
great and increasing commercial relations of the 
island of Cuba with the United States, which alone, 
it @ supposed, will give such an amount of business 
to the telegraphic lines of the Company as will yield a 
very great return upon the capital invésted in it; but, 
in addition to this source, the communication between 
Cuba and Spain and the rest of | Kurope, through the 
European ocean cables, and lines of steamers from 
New York, will add very materially to the business 
of the Company. In an official letter from the Span- 
ish Director General of Telegraphs to his Government, 
he says that “the commerce between the two coun- 
tries, as shown by official statistics, needs the trans. 
mission of over one thousand messages daily.” This 
is confirmed by experienced persons; but is in excess 
of the estimates made by the Company, who will be 
amply satisfied and abundantly repaid by less than 
half this number of messages. 

The Company propose before March, 1867, to con- 
struct the line between the United States and Cuba, 


& 


‘i 


and subsequently to extend their lines to Panama, 
and to such of the West India islands as may offer 
sufficient inducements, For these purposes they 
have already dispatched an agent and are in com- 
munication with several foreign governments. 

The entire length of the cable between Cuba and 
the United States will be one hundred and two miles, 
and English cable manufacturers have offered to. 
make, lay, and guarantee the cable at reasonable 
rates. A French company has been heavily sub- 
sidized to lay telegraph cables from Lisbon westward, 
under the sanction of an international telegraphic 
convention, at which France, Portugal, Italy, BA&zil, 
and other powers were represented. At this conven- 
tion the object proposed was the connection by tele- 
graphic lines of Europe, South America, the West 
India islands, and the United States; the neutral- 
ity of the line was agreed to, and exclusive privi- 
leges granted, by the powers represented, for a period 
of ninety-nine years. This line once constructed 
gives a cable, between Europe and America, of twenty- 
two sections, thus increasing the capacity for work 
and diminishing the risk of loss. 

The Articles of Association, the act of the Legisla- 
ture of Florida, the act of the Congress of the United 
States, and the several orders of the Spanish gov- 
ernment above referred to are hereto annexed, and 
also extracts from letters, giving details as to the 
character of the bottom of the ocean between Florida 
and Cuba. 


8 


Further information may be obtained at the office 

of the Company, 45 William street, New York, where 

@ the subscription books are open, and specimens of the 
cable can be seen. 


Aer ie) IN OX: 


ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION, 


Between James A. Scrymser, Alfred Pell, Jr, 
Alexander Hamilton, Jr., Oliver K. King, all of the 
city, county, and State of New York, Maturin L. Dela- 
field, of Yonkers, New York, William F. Smith, of 
Vermont, and James M. Digges, of Warrentown, Vir- 
ginia. 

We, the said James A. fcrymser, Alfred Pell, Jr., 
Alexander Hamilton, Jr., Oliver K. King, Maturin 
L. Delafield, William F. Smith, and James M. Dides, 
do hereby certify, That we have associated under the 
name of Tue INTERNATIONAL Ocean TELFGRaPH Com- 
pany, which name shall be used in its dealings by our 
said Company, and by which it may sue and be sued. 

The object of said Company is to construct, use, 
and maintain a line or lines of magnetic or electric 
telegraph between the city of New York and the city 
of Havana, in the island of Cuba. 

Said line to cross the Gulf of Mexico at a conve- 
nient point at or near the southern extremity of the 
State of Florida, and thence to said city of New 
York. 

Said line subsequently to be extended from the 
island of Cuba to the isthmus of Panama, the 
Spanish Main, and the island of St. Thomas. 

It is hereby expressly provided that at any future 
time the number of persons composing this Associa- 
tion, as well as the capital thereof, may be increased 
upon the consent of a majority of the directors 
thereof. 


10 


The duration of this Company shall be Fifty Years, 
beginning on the second day of December, one thou- 
sand eight hundred and sixty-five, and terminating on 
the second day of December, one thousand nine hun- 
dred and fifteen. 

In witness whereof, we lave hereunto set our hands 
and seals this second day of December, one. thousand 


eight hundred and sixty-five. 


(Signed) . J AMES A. ScryMser. Goon 
A.rreD Pett, Jr. © seat. & 

Auex. Hamiuton, Jr. sea. § 

e | | Geatn K. Kine. FB sean. 
Mary L. DevarieLp. 3=.8 

Won. F. Surrs, S seat. 


J. M. Dicces. i nat, 


SPSRSISNB IE SROTESS 
5 cents v. . @ In the presence of— 


= Revenue Stamp. 


2 Cancelled. Davip Lyon. 
esticspicspisipiespessgesatenccapics 


Stare oF New York, 
City and County of New Yerk. § 
I, Wirtram C. Conner, clerk of the said city and county, do certify, 
that I have compared the preceding with the original articles of 
association of the ‘ INTERNATIONAL OcEAN TELEGRAPH CoMPANY” 
on file in my office, and that the same is a correct tr anscript theta 
and of the whole of such original. 


In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, 
and affixed my official seal, this loth day of December, 


1865. . 
spaveazeseos 
ea | Wo. C. CONNER, 
38 SEAL. § . tent 
[ee im 
He BOE 7 _ Clerk. 


Ai Art to encourage Telegraphic Communication 
between the State of Florida and the Island of Cuba 
and other West India Islands. eg: 

ditvevens James A. SorYMSER, APPR iD WPihns eeer:, 
ALEXANDER Hamitton, Jr., Otiver K. Kine, Marv- 
In L. Denarrenp, Wituiam F. Suits, and James M. 
DigGes, their associates, successors, and assigns, per- 
sons composing ‘ Tur INTERNATIONAL OcEAN TELE- 
GrapH Company,” an incorporated Company, chartered 
by the State of New York, are desirous of establish- 
ing a line of submarine telegraphic communication 
between the State of Florida and the island of COfba, 
Isthmus of Panama, Mexico, Central and South 
America ; 

Now therefore in order to facilitate the said enter- 
prise, 

He it enucted by the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the State of Florida, in General Assembly 
convened : 

That Jamus A. Scrymser, ALFRED Pru, Jr., ALEX- 
ANDER HamittTon, Jr., Ouiver K. Kine, Marturin L. 
‘Dexarietp, Wituiam F. Smitru, and James M. Diaass, 
persons composing ‘THE INTERNATIONAL OCEAN TELE- 
GRAPH Company,” their associates, successors, and as- 
sions, shall have the sole and exclusive nght and 
privilege for the period of twenty years from the date 
of this act, of landing a submarine telegraphic cable 
or cables on the shore, sea-coast, islands, reefs or 


LIBRARY y 
UMVERSITY or MTT , 


12 


sand-banks lying within the limits and jurisdiction 
of the State of Florida, and of connecting by means 
of said submarine telegraphic cable or cables the 
shore and sea-coast of the state aforesaid, with the 
island of Cuba. 


He it further enacted, That the parties aforesaid, 
composing “THE InrerNaTIoNAL Ocean TELEGRAPH: 
Company,” their associates, successors, and assigns, be 
authorized and empowered to connect the terminus 
of the submarine cable or cables aforesaid, on the 
shore, by a land line with the most convenient land 
telegraphic line, and for that purpose they shall have 
thg privilege and power to erect, construct, maintain 
and operate telegraphic lines through the State of | 
Florida, and across the islands, keys, sand-banks, 
and reefs, belonging to said State, and over which 
said State has control and jurisdiction. 


Provided, Wowever, That the said Jamus A. Scrym- 
sER, ALFRED PELL, Jr., ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Jr., 
Outrver K. Kine, Marturin L. DELAFIELD, Wituiam F, 
SmitH, and James M. Dias, parties composing the 
said ‘‘ INTERNATIONAL OcEAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY,” 
their associates, successors and assigns, shall’ within 
the period of five years from the passage of this act 
cause the said submarine telegraph cable or cables 
to be laid down, connecting the shore of the 
State of Florida and the island of Cuba, and, through 
the said State of Florida, connecting with other tele- 
oraph lines; and Provided a/so, That the said line shall 
be in successful operation for the transmission of 


13 


messages and despatches over it within the said 
period of five years, otherwise this grant to be null 
and void. 

He it further enacted, That the telegraph line from 
the terminus of the cable on the shore, shall connect 
with all telegraph lines which it may pass in the State 
of Florida, provided the consent of said telegraph 
companies can be obtained for that purpose. 


He it turther enacted, That the State of Florida 
shall have the right to levy and collect taxes on the 
property of the said “InrernationaL Ocran TELE- 
GRAPH Company” in the State aforesaid. } 


Passed the Senate, January 2, 1866. 


(Signed) F. §. VILLEpPicus, 
| Secretary of State. 


(Signed) W. W. J. Katty, 


Tieutenant-Governor and ex-officio President 
of the Senate. 


Passed the House of Representatives, January 2, 1866. 


(Signed) Wm. Forsytue Bynum, 
Clerk of the House of Representatives. 


(Signed) JosEPH JOHN WILLIAMS, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 


Approved, January 2, 1866. 


4 


hos (Signed) Davip 8S. WALKER, 


[ue 


BOUT Governor of the State of Florida. 


14 


January 2, 1866. 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE 
OF THE State oF FLoripDa. 
I hereby certify that the foregoing act of the 
General Assembly is a true copy of the original now 
on file in my. office. 


(Signed) .. Bens, F. ALuEn, 
Secretary of State. 


- 


AN ACT to encourage telegraphic communication be- 
tween the United States and the island of Cuba and 
other West India islands and the Bahamas. 


’ Wuereas James A. Scrymser, Alfred Pell, Junior, 
Alexander Hamilton, Junior, Oliver K: King, Ma- 
turin L. Delafield, William F. Smith, and James M. 
Digges, their associates, successors, and assigns, per- 
sons composing the International Ocean Telegraph 
Company, an incorporated company chartered by the 
State of New York, are desirous of establishing a line 
of submarine telegraphic communication between the 
United States of America and the West India islands 
and the Bahamas: Now therefore, in order to facili- 
tate the said enterprise, 


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the United States of America, in Con- 
gress assembled, That the said International Ocean 
Telegraph Company, incorporated under the laws of 
the State of New York, their successors and assigns, 
shall have the sole privilege for a period of fourteen 
years from the approval of this act, to lay, construct, 
land, maintain, and operate telegraphic or magnetic 
lines or cables in and over the waters, reefs, islands, 
shores, and lands, over which the United States have 
jurisdiction, from the shores of the State of Florida, 
in the said United States, to the island of Cuba and 
the Bahamas, either or both, and other West India 
islands. 


16 


Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said 
International Ocean Telegraph Company shall at all 
times give the United States free use of said cable, 
or cables, to a telegraphic operator of its own selec- 
tion, to transmit any messages to and from its mili- 
tary, naval, and diplomatic or consular agents; and 
the said Company shall keep all its lines open to the 
public for the transmission for daily publication of 
market and commercial reports and intelligence, and 
all messages, despatches, and communications shall 
be forwarded in the order in which they shall be re- 
ceived ; and the said Company shalWnot be permitted 
to Sharge and collect for messages transmitted through 
any of its submarine cables more than the rate of 
three dollars and fifty cents for messages of ten words, 
subject, however, to the power of Congress to alter 
and determine said rates; Provided, That the said 
International Ocean Telegraph Company shall, within 
the period of three years from the passage of this act, 
cause the said submarine telegraphic cable or cables 
to be laid down, and that the said cable or cables 
shall be in successful operation for the transmission 
of messages within the said period of five years; 
otherwise, this grant to be null and void. 


Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That Congress 
shall have power, at any time, to alter or repeal the 
foregoing act. 


Approved May 5, 1866. 


Official Note of the Minister of Her Catholic Majesty to 
the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
America. 


(Translation from the original, on file in this Legation of the United States. ) 


LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES 
or AmeErRIcA, Maprip, 


MInisTERIAL DEPARTMENT OF Sraf, 
Palace, June 26, 1866. 


Sir: In reply to the note of that Legation, dated 
the 20th inst., relative to the petition which General 
Smith addressed to the Government of Her Majesty, 
I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency a 
copy of the Royal Order which the Minister of the 
Colonies has issued relating to this subject. 

By it is granted, as your Excellency will see, to 
the said General Smith, as Representative of the 
International Ocean Telegraph Company, the permit 
which he solicited for this Company, to fix on the 
coasts of the island of Cuba one of the extremi- 
ties of the Submarine Telegraphic Cable which will 
leave the United States at a point on the coast of 
Florida ; it being understood that this concession is 
subject to the bases and conditions expressed in said 
Royal Order. 


18 


I avail myself of this occasion to renew to your 
Excellency the assurance of my most distinguished 
consideration. 


(Signed) An. BERMUDEZ DE Castro. 


To the MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY 
of the United States. 


I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy 
and translation from the original. 
Attest. 
(Signed) Joun P, Hats, 
U. S. Minister Plenipotentiary, éc., Madrid. 


[ Translation. | 
MInIsTERIAL DEPARTMENT OF THE COLONIES. 


The Minister of Colonies begs to communicate with 
this date to the Superior Civil Governor of the island 
of Cuba, the following, Major-General William F. 
Smith, of the United States Army, having repeatedly 
called on this ministry as the representative of the 
International Oceanic Telegraph Company, soliciting 
that the government of Her Catholic Majesty should 
authorize said Company to fix in that island the end 
of a Submarine Telegraph Cable, which will start 
from the United States at a point on the coast of 
Florida, to establish communication with the Central 
Telegraph Station of Havana. In regard to the basis 
of the enterprise and its economical conditions they 
will be established by common consent of himself and 
the delegates which will be named by the Government 
of Her Catholic Majesty, the expositor. ‘he Spanish 
Government claims and reserves the right and full 
power of suspending the working of said telegraphic 
line or ordering the cable to be taken up if in the 
judgement of this Government circumstances should 
occur in which it might be deemed advisable to sus- 
pend telegraphic communications between Cuba and 
the United States. 

Referring to the communication which, with date 
8th inst, the Minister of State sent to this bureau, 
transcribing what was communicated to him with 


20 


date 3d, by the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United 
States at this court, which states that “the Secretary 
of State of his country informs him that the Congress 
of the Union passed a law, granting to the Inter- 
national Ocean Telegraph Company, legally incor- 
porated in the United States, the exclusive right of 
laying submarine telegraph cables between the United 
States and Cuba;” that he is charged by his Govern- 
ment to solicit from that of Her Catholic Majesty the 
necessary permission in order to enable said Company 
to fix one of the ends of the cable on the coast of 
Cuba, to communicate with the Central Department 
of &ie Havana Telegraph, subject to the conditions 
and restrictions which the Government of Her Catholic 
Majesty may deem expedient to propose, and adding, 
Major-General William F. Smith, of the United States 
Army, is at the present moment in Madrid represent- 
ing the interests of said Company, and that he recom- 
mends him, and has instructions to recommend him, 
to the good offices of the Government of Her Catholic 
Majesty. Taking into consideration that said Company 
proposes, in the event of obtaining the required con- 
cessions from the Government of Spain, to stretch the 
telegraph cable from Florida to Cuba, during the 
months of autumn of the present year, for which 
purpose they allege that they have made the necessary 
surveys from their coasts as far as the jurisdictional 
waters of Spain on the coast of Cuba, and that their 
contracts are prepared with the constructors of sub- 
marine cables ; considering the benefits to be derived 


21 


from a telegraphic communication to the already 
vast commercial relations which have been developed 
between Cuba and the United States, with reciprocal 
benefits to both countries, and, what is not less note- 
worthy, the service which is now discussed. will 
greatly enhance the rapidity of communications be- 
tween the island of Cuba and this Capital once that 
the Transatlantic cable is laid and working, and 
which the Government of Her Catholic Majesty has 
well-crounded reasons to think will be declared 
neutral in its continuation through the United States. 

The Queen (whom God preserve), in concurrence 
with the Council of Ministers, has seen fit to orart to 
Mr. William F. Smith, as representing the Inter- 
national Ocean Telegraph Company, permission to 
fix at the point which your Excellency may designate, 
on the coasts of that island, the end of the submarine 
cable, which, in accordance with the grant made to 
the same Company by the Congress of the Union, 
will start from the coast of Florida. For this purpose 
your Excellency will, in concurrence with the senior 
naval officer of that station, permit the survey of the 
coast, thus completing the surveys and soundings 
already carried out by the United States as far as per- 
tains to her coast and to the high seas. Your Excel- 
lency will also make the necessary dispositions to 
connect said cable with the central telegraphic station 
of that capital, with the understanding that the line, 
after its connection, will continue to be worked ex- 
clusivelv by the national operators, and under the basis 


22 


which your Excellency, after hearing the respective 
heads of department, will formulate conveniently, and 
submit for the approval of Government, which reserves 
to itself the power to suspend, either directly or by the 
authority of your Excellency, the telegraphic com- 
munications between that island and the United 
States, and in no case will the Company to whom this 
concession is made have any claim for indemnity on 
said account. All expenses of surveys and laying the 
lines as far as the Central Telegraphic Station of that 
capital will be entirely on account of the Company to 
whom this grant is made. 

he adjustment of international telegraphic tariffs 
which will govern the sending of official and private 
telegrams between both countries will be subject of 
agreement entered into at this court between the 
Spanish Government represented by the Director-Gen- 
eral of Telegraphs, and Mr. William F. Smith, repre- 
senting the International Ocean Telegraph Com- 
pany. 

It is understood that this grant is made provision- 
ally until such time as all the points which form the 
subject of this communication are arranged, so as to 
formulate the necessary grant, without prejudice to 
the consequences which may arise from the Royal 
Decree of June 30, 1865, which conceded to Don 
Arturo Marcoartu and others, provisional authority 
to establish telegraphic communication between the 
Spanish West Indies and the coasts of the United 
- States. 


23 


By Royal Order, communicated through said minis- 
ter, which I now transmit to you for your informa- 
tion. God preserve you many years. ) 


Maprip, June 19, 1866. 
The Sub-Secretary, 


Fernanpo Vipa. 


To Mr. Witutam F. Smits, 
Representative of the International Ocean Telegraph Company. 


The condition referring to the Royal Order of June 
30th, 1865, not being satisfactory, the Company have 
been soliciting its withdrawal, and with the follwing 
results : 


[ Translation. ] 
MINISTERIAL DEPARTMENT OF THE COLONIES. 


ROYAL DECREE. 


In the proceedings relating to the decree of the 30th 
of June, 1865, which decree, originating in a pro- 
visional concession for the laying of submarine cables 
between certain designated points, granted to Messrs. 
Arturo Marcoartu, the Marquises of Marianao and 
Manzanedo, the Count Esteban de Cafiongo, Michael 
Chevalier, Ferdinand Lesseps, and Leopold, Werner, 
authorized certain surveys, soundings, and other 

. works, which had to precede the examination of the 
..terms on which the final execution of said modes of 
communication should be allowed and decreed : 


24 


In view of the fact that Messrs. the Marquis of Man- 
zanedo, Ferdinand Lesseps, and Michael Chevalier, 
© have denied that they formed part of the corporation 
which was the subject of the declarations contained 
in the decree referred to, and in consideration of the 
death of the Marquis of Marianao ; 

In view of the report of a full asseml age of the 
Council of State, wherein are detailed their -easonings 
wherefore the declarations made in said decree should 
be without effect; 

In view of the petition presented by Mr. Arthur 
Marcoartt, who states that he is an asso iate of the 
West Indian and American Telegraph Company, in 
which petition he solicits a final concession for the 
laying of the cables ; 

Considering that all the declarations of the Royal 
Decree of the 30th June, 1865, which were made in 
favor of an association dissolved by the death of one 
of its members and by the secession of others, cannot 
refer to one person or association ; 

Considering that by said declarations no perfect or 
absolute title was granted, but only and solely an 
authority to proceed with certain surveys and sound- 
ings which should precede the examination of the 
terms of a final concession, the conditions of which 
remain entirely at the free will of the Govern- 
ment ; 

Considering that the present petition of Don Arturo 
Marcoartu, inasmuch as it is a purely person alone, 
or representing the West India and American Tele- 


20 


graph, has no connection with the persons in whose 
favor was issued the decree of the 30th June, 1865, and 
can adduce no legitimate derivation from the pure and 
sole authorization of works which was conceded to 
them ; | 

Considering that of this authorization, after the time 
that has since transpired, no use has been made in the 
manner in which it was intended, and that from said 
authorization no right can be derived, nor any reason 
adduced, why, the Association to which the authority 
was conceded having failed, new persons should in- 
voke said authorization in order to unite it to other and 
more recent petitions, which have been presented foga 
final concession for the laying of the cables ; 

In view of what has been declared to me by the 
Minister of the Colonies, and on the concurrence with 
my Council of State, 

I declare null and without effect all the articles of 
the decree of the 30th of June, 1865. 


Given in Zarauz, on the twenty-ninth day of Au- 
gust, in the year one thousand eight hundred 
and sixty-six. 


Subscribed by the Royal Hand. 


The Minister of the Colonies, 
ALEJANDRO CASTRO. 


( 


26 


[ Translation. | 
LEGATION OF THE 
Unitep States or America, Maprip. 


MINISTERIAL DEPARTMENT OF THE COLONIES. 


The Minister of the Colonies says, under this date, 
to the Superior Civil Governor of the island of Cuba, 
what follows, to wit. : 

In consequence of the Royal Decree of this date, in 
which that of the 30th of June, 1865, is declared to 
be of no effect, and its dispositions are annulled under 
which Don Arturo Marcoarti and others were author- 
ized to execute certain studies, soundings, and works 
r&ative to the establishment of telegraphic submarine 
cables from the island of Cuba to that of Porto Rico, 
and from these two points to the coasts of the United 
States, of the Isthmus of Panama, and of the Empire 
of Mexico, the Queen (whom God guard), with the 
advice and consent of the Council of Ministers, has 
been pleased to declare ratified purely and simply the 
provisions of the Royal Order of the 19th of last June, 
by which there was conceded provisionally to William 
¥. Smith, gentleman, as representative of the Inter- 
national Ocean Telegraph Company, permission to fix 
at the point which your Excellency may designate on 
the coasts of that island, the extremity of the sub- 
marine telegraphic cable, which, in accordance with 
the grant conceded to the same Company by the Gov- 
ernment of the United States, will leave the coasts of 
Florida; it being understood that the reservations 
which the Royal Order cited made in favor of the 


27 


effects of the aforesaid Royal Decree of June 30th, 
1865, remain without object, since the latter have 
ceased in all their parts in consequence of the annul- 
ment of the same.” 

By Royal Order communicated by the Minister 
aforesaid, I transmit this to you for your knowledge. 
God guard you many years. 


Manprip, August 29th, 1866. 


The Sub-Secretary, 
(Signed.) SALVADOR DE ALBACETE. 


Addressed to Witu1am F. Smits, Esa., 
Representative of the International Ocean Telegraph Company. 4’ 


I hereby certify that the foregoing is a faithful 
translation from the Spanish of the original in my 
possession. 


In testimony whereof witness my hand and the 
seal of this Legation of the United States at 
Madrid, August 30th, 1866. 


fos f (Signed.) Horatio J. Perry, 


L. 8. 


acne? U. 8. Secretary of Legation. 


The surveys and soundings between Florida and 
- Cuba have been completed. The Report, with full 
maps, can be seen at the office of the Company. 


Extract from a letter dated Port Royal, May 14, 
1866, from Mr. Henry Mitchell, Asst. U. S. Coast 
Survey, to Mr. J. bk. Hilgard, in charge of Coast 
Survey. 


¢ Going southward from Sand Key Light, we find 
the bottom, beyond the rock apron, composed of whit- 
ish coral mud, until mid-channel is reached. Passing 
this point, we come upon a very stiff deposite of pale 
orange mud or sand; it is at once recognized as the 
debris of the moro-conglomerate. ... ° The near ap- 
proach of the soft bottom to the Cuba shores is likely 
to prove a great advantage to the telegraph, since the 
cable can only be worn off close in-shore, where con- 
venient for recovery and repair. On the north side, 
the absence of currents over the rock apron, except 
near the reef, is favorable. There may be trouble at 
the seven-fathom reef, but this is close in, and bottom 
can be distinctly seen on quiet days. By many care- 
ful observations, I ascertained that objects can be seen 
at depth of ten fathoms, in calm weather, at midday. 
The lay of the cable on the bottom may be followed 
by the eye, beyond the action of the waves, there- 
LOren, V1. au. We have not found the ‘ polar current,’ the 
‘littoral counter-drifts,’ the ‘almost frigid substrata,’ 
and other fallacies. On the contrary, the little west- 


29 


wardly drift on the north side proves to be the flood 
current, and, of course, intermittent, while near the 
Moro there is a slack space of very small extent within 
the stream. 

“The temperature is not less than 60° in the neigh- 
borhood of Cuba ; it has been stated in print at 35°. 
I shall report soon after reaching home, and trust you 
will feel, as we do, that no labor has been spared in 
this interesting work.” 


Extract from a letter dated Washington, June 29, 
1866, from J. bk. Hilgard, Hsq.,in charge U. 8. 
Coast Survey Office, to Maturin L. Delafield, Inter- 


national Ocean Telegraph Co. r 


“T note from a preliminary report by Mr. Mitchell, 
that his greatest depth is 845 fathoms just about mid- 
way between Sand Key and the Moro; then gradually 
the depth shoals again to 380 fathoms. Going south- 
ward, further on, the bottom falls off again to 748 
fathoms, and, shoaling gradually at first, rises 583 
fathoms in the last four and one half miles, being on a 
slope of one in seven. ‘This is the only difficult part 
of the line, but I scarcely consider it formidable. The 
ridge just south of mid-channel forms a respectable 
submarine mountain of twenty-eight hundred feet ele- 
vation, but with easy slopes.” 


The following extract is published for the infor- 
mation of the public: 


Extract from Letter of Mr. Cromwell F. Varley, Elec- 
trician of the Atlantic Cable Company, to the “ Ob- 
server,” dated March 3, 1866. 


“The best preservative of gutta-percha is  sea- 
water. Failure of cables already laid prove no dete- 
rioration of the gutta-percha; it has proceeded from 
ifperfect joints and imperfect manufacture. The 
Dover and Calais Cable, laid in 1851, is still doing 
its duty. These latter sources of failure are now en- 
tirely overcome, thanks to Samuel Statham, John 
Chatterton, Willoughby Smith; and those scientific 
gentlemen who have devised methods as well as 
apparatus for hunting out minute faults, even when 
they have been so small that they would not weaken 
the signals through the Atlantic Cable a one-millionth 
part. | 

‘‘There is no instance of a deep-sea cable that was 
perfect when laid having failed in deep water. The 
Malta and Alexandria Line is laid in three sections, 
and the one laid in deep sea from Malta to Tripoli 
has never cost sixpence for repairs. The injuries. 
have all been, with one exception, between Bengazi 
and Alexandria, where the cable is laid in shallow 
water, and where it has had to be repaired each time 
it has,been chafed by the rocks. In the new At- 
lantic Cable, the shore ends will be carried sufhi- 


31 


ciently far out to reach into deep water, and we have 
no instance on record of a cable approaching to the 
weight of this shore end having been injured. The 
lines once laid perfectly, will, in all probability, be 
permanent. 


1 


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PROFILE MAP 


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» ISKAND OF CUBAaxD FLORIDA KEYS, U.S. 


FROM SURVEY BY MR HENRY MITCHELL, 


30 


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